Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An electronic apparatus comprising a plurality of USB (Universal Serial Bus) interfaces and capable of supplying a current to a plurality of external devices connected to the plurality of USB interfaces, the electronic apparatus comprising: a USB hub circuit that controls the plurality of USB interfaces; a controller that controls a plurality of circuits including at least the USB hub circuit; a plurality of power source control units connected to each of the plurality of USB interfaces in order to control power supply to an external device connected to one USB interface by a power source control unit corresponding to the one USB interface, and configured to output a detection of an overcurrent supplied to an external device as an overcurrent detection signal to the USB hub circuit via a plurality of first signal lines respectively corresponding to the plurality of power source control units; a logic circuit that is connected to the plurality of first signal lines, connected to the controller, and controls an interrupt signal to the controller based on the overcurrent detection signal input from the plurality of first signal lines; and a plurality of second signal lines that individually connect the controller and the plurality of power source control units, wherein in response to receiving the overcurrent detection signal from any power source control unit out of the plurality of power source control units, the USB hub circuit acquires specifying information for specifying the power source control unit that outputs the overcurrent detection signal, wherein based on the interrupt signal from the logic circuit, the controller acquires the specifying information transmitted from the USB hub circuit, the controller controls an output to a signal line to be in a specific output state, the signal line corresponding to the specified power source control unit out of the plurality of power source control units, so as to shut off a current to be supplied to the external device connected to the specified power source control unit, and wherein the USB hub circuit is not capable of individually controlling the plurality of power source control units.
2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the power source control units have an overcurrent detection unit configured to detect a current larger than or equal to a predetermined threshold value as an overcurrent in a case where the current is supplied to the external device, and each of the power source control units perform control so as to supply a current less than the predetermined threshold value to the external device in a case where an overcurrent is detected by the overcurrent detection unit.
3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the power source control units have a low voltage detection unit configured to detect an input voltage as a low voltage in a case where the input voltage becomes less than or equal to a predetermined voltage value, and each of the power source control units perform control so as to shut off a current supplied for the external device in a case where a low voltage is detected by the low voltage detection unit.
4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the power source control units has an overheating detection unit configured to detect overheating of the power source control unit, and each of the power source control units perform control so as to shut off a current supplied for the external device in a case where overheating is detected by the overheating detection unit.
5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the power source control units has an output discharge unit configured to perform control so as to discharge output power in a case where control is performed so as to shut off a current supplied for the external device.
6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the power source control units includes a high-side switch circuit.
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July 12, 2022
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